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A 2-year-old boy’s life was cut short after drowning following an alligator attack near the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Lane Graves’ life was cut short after drowning following an alligator attack near Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. PHOTO CREDIT: CNN

On Wednesday, authorities recovered the body of Lane Graves almost 17 hours after the 7-to 8-foot reptile snatched and dragged the boy into the water. According to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, the body remained intact.

A source familiar with the investigation revealed that the body had only a few puncture wounds giving authorities reason to believe that the boy likely died of drowning.

Demings said: "Of course, the autopsy has to confirm that, but there is likely no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator.”

Parents Matts and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska were on vacation with Lane and their 4-year-old daughter at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa when the attack happened in a man-made lake.

Apparently, the boy was playing in about a foot of water at the Seven Seas lagoon at the resort late Tuesday when the alligator grabbed him. Although his father tried to rescue him, he was unable to ward off the animal and sustained minor injuries in his hand. Lane’s mother also attempted to save her son by rushing into the water.

When the couple failed to rescue their son, they alerted a nearby lifeguard who contacted 911.

Demings described the boy’s terrifying ordeal as “not survivable.”

“We know that that happened and it is certainly not survivable at this point for him to have been submerged for that period of time,” Demings explained.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation executive director Nick Wiley said that the American alligator do not typically eat humans. Wiley, who headed the search, believes that the gator likely confused the small child for a dog or a raccoon.

Five alligators have been removed by officials from the lake. These reptiles will be euthanized to identify if they were involved in the incident.

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